TV show debut for Taranaki woman
A live lockdown video of a Taranaki woman teaching tamariki the art of play-based learning has landed her a television show.
Hawaiki Tamati’s programme, Ki Waho, debuted on Ma¯ ori Television’s Te Reo channel last Tuesday.
The early childhood educator’s rise to television stardom came after she responded to a wha¯nau friend’s request looking for people to create educational te reo Ma¯ ori videos for tamariki while in lockdown.
The friend received a lot of interest and a number of lessons went live on Facebook page, Kura Mo¯ Nga¯ Mokopuna, followed by about 11,000 people.
‘‘There was waiata, there was karakia, all these different Ma¯ ori resources, you know, baking, exercise and kapa haka and stuff,’’ she said.
‘‘My one, I wanted to show everyone that even though you’re stuck indoors you still get to go about
5km out from your house for a walk.
‘‘I wanted to show people that you can pretty much find anything to use in the environment that is available to you.’’
And that’s exactly what Tamati, who is in her
20s, did when she went out exploring around her home in Huirangi, near Waitara, north of New Plymouth.
‘‘I made a live video for the kids based on forestschooling. Basically it was filled with nature activities like drawing in the dirt, making pictures out of sticks, using dirt and leaves as paint and creating crafts out of what was around me.’’
Little did Tamati know, it wasn’t only tamariki watching.
Koniahi Productions also caught sight of Tamati’s video and were so impressed they approached her with an idea for a children’s programme.
‘‘We just went straight into asking Ma¯ ori Television for funding, permissions, and doing the necessary things to bring this to life.’’
With the pitch accepted, Tamati went straight into filming around Taranaki, using the region’s natural backdrop as her stage.
The season comprised six episodes of naturebased activities delivered in te reo Ma¯ ori.
And despite not being very excited to see herself on television, Tamati, daughter of former New Plymouth District councillor Howie Tamati, hoped it would get picked up for a second season.
‘‘I was a bit nervous, but it was a good nervous. ‘‘I just want everybody to get the most out of it.’’